McEwen I. (2103). Separating the Wheat From the Chaff A Guide to Weeding. Teacher Librarian,
volume 39 (4), 33-34.
Teacher librarian Ian McEwen describes the two types of teacher weeders. His discussion of the the two types includes how they handle the arduous and often polarizing task that is weeding. McEwen also discusses the reasons we weed and gives tips for making the process easier.
Summary
Ian McEwen is a teacher librarian in Canada. He describes that teacher librarians fall into two types of librarian: Type A weeders are confident and efficient. They don’t second guess their decisions and get rid of material that has run its course without remorse. Type B weeders agonize over their choices, worried that their choices are the wrong ones and often come up with a reason why an item should be saved. McEwen chronicles a conversation with a student whose school library book fell apart in his possession. Due to its age and disrepair, the student was not able to recover the pieces. While McEwen strove for reasons to keep the book on the shelf, the student in question cited that the book smelled like his family’s moldy basement and questioned why it was still in circulation. McEwen sent the boy back to class, but had much to consider.
McEwen cites looks, condition and relevance of the material in weeding. The first two are simple enough to spot. He explains the nuances of the material being relevant by advocating for judging a book by its cover. Would today’s school age readers recognize the subject, fashions, or material on the cover? If not, then the books need weeding. He also cites the ‘what-if’ factor of weeding. The feeling of what-if that a lot of librarians face in the worry a book or series that circulated well once upon a time might do so again. McEwen advocates for pulling these books in favor of a new series that could circulate better or attract new readers.
In a world where physical books have much to compete with, weeding keeps the collection up to date and becoming a Type A weeder allows for it to happen.
volume 39 (4), 33-34.
Teacher librarian Ian McEwen describes the two types of teacher weeders. His discussion of the the two types includes how they handle the arduous and often polarizing task that is weeding. McEwen also discusses the reasons we weed and gives tips for making the process easier.
Summary
Ian McEwen is a teacher librarian in Canada. He describes that teacher librarians fall into two types of librarian: Type A weeders are confident and efficient. They don’t second guess their decisions and get rid of material that has run its course without remorse. Type B weeders agonize over their choices, worried that their choices are the wrong ones and often come up with a reason why an item should be saved. McEwen chronicles a conversation with a student whose school library book fell apart in his possession. Due to its age and disrepair, the student was not able to recover the pieces. While McEwen strove for reasons to keep the book on the shelf, the student in question cited that the book smelled like his family’s moldy basement and questioned why it was still in circulation. McEwen sent the boy back to class, but had much to consider.
McEwen cites looks, condition and relevance of the material in weeding. The first two are simple enough to spot. He explains the nuances of the material being relevant by advocating for judging a book by its cover. Would today’s school age readers recognize the subject, fashions, or material on the cover? If not, then the books need weeding. He also cites the ‘what-if’ factor of weeding. The feeling of what-if that a lot of librarians face in the worry a book or series that circulated well once upon a time might do so again. McEwen advocates for pulling these books in favor of a new series that could circulate better or attract new readers.
In a world where physical books have much to compete with, weeding keeps the collection up to date and becoming a Type A weeder allows for it to happen.
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